Untapped Potential

An uncertain real estate market has been good to at least one sector of the building profession—remodelers. Both homeowners and remodelers are finding creative ways to tap into the potential of existing homes while, in many cases, still remaining within or close to the home’s original footprint. While some of these projects might seem more modest in scale—especially in light of some of the extreme makeovers that were all the rage in recent years—the end results of these more focused endeavors are no less inspired and impressive.

Some of the more remarkable transformations can be found in homes that in some cases haven’t been refreshed or rethought in years. Small, dated spaces lacking function and design are being replaced with modern spaces that add livability and value to a home.

Photos courtesy of TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders

Before: Lake Calhoun home second-floor space

After

These changes, while at times dramatic, still need to work within the context of the original home’s structure and style. According to Scot Waggoner, CEO of w.b. builders in Edina, a good remodel should be timeless and mesh flawlessly with the home. He also believes that a redesign should last a minimum of ten years. And even though kitchens seem to have a little more staying power, most are ready for an update after twenty years.

Whether a home is in need of a partial redesign or a full makeover, the timing for a change couldn’t be better. Remodelers are finding ways to add what were once considered luxury components without breaking the budget. “Today the average household, or just above average (in income), can afford good design,” says Dave Amundson, owner of TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders, in Minneapolis. “When I was growing up, the only people that could afford good design were the wealthy.”

Here’s a look at some recent projects that accentuate the potential of an existing home and make the most of the homeowner’s investment.

Time for a Change

Local remodeling experts are finding some interesting trends among homeowners today who, in some cases at least, may be uncertain about how long it might take to sell their homes and are instead opting to stay put and update their current home. Three demographic groups, in particular, seem to be driving this trend.

Photos by Dean Riedel of 360-VIP

Before

After: Replaced flooring and a redesigned fireplace

One segment of updaters includes established empty nesters who have sent the last of their kids to college and are looking at how to make their home fit their current needs. “Baby boomers aren’t putting on as many additions these days,” says Mark Hoiseth, Stonehouse Designs, Wayzata. “More of them are deciding to rework the existing spaces.”

Dave Goodlund, vice president of operations for Plekkenpol Builders, Bloomington, is seeing this as well. “During the housing boom we were getting more calls from people who had just purchased a home, and they wanted us to come in and do some remodeling,” he says. “Now our clients have made a long-term commitment to their home, but they want to make it more usable for their needs.”

Growing families have been a mainstay customer of the remodeling industry and that still holds true today, says Jason Fabio, owner of Woodbury-based Ispiri. Often when a young professional couple is having another baby, they think about expanding, either by adding another bedroom or more play space for the kids.

Amundson has picked up on another interesting trend. “One thing we are seeing more of is older people coming together for the first time for some reason—a divorce, a death, a first-time marriage,” he notes. “These older couples are establishing their life together, and they are doing that through their home.” Often each person brings a home to the new union. They sell one and remodel the other. “It feels very intimate,” Amundson says. “They are letting us help them create a new life together.”

Beyond these three is another interesting phenomenon known to some as ‘gram to glam’—taking what, for lack of a better term, is a “grandma” home that may have outdated carpeting, appliances, wall coverings, and overall design and making the most of its untapped potential. In these instances, remodelers can work with homeowners to transform small homes that haven’t been updated for decades into totally modern and glamorous living spaces.

Beyond the potential found in these homes, another attractive aspect is the neighborhoods in which they are found. “A lot of the older city houses are pretty small, but our customers like to live in the city,” says Loren Schirber, co-owner of Castle Building and Remodeling, in Minneapolis. “They like the neighborhood feel, coffee shops, large mature trees, and amenities they can walk to.”

Room to Move

Photos courtesy of Stonehouse Builders

Before

After: Vaulted ceilings and deleted walls

At the heart of most remodeling projects is a quest for more space. However, Stonehouse Designs’ Hoiseth says the trend seems to be focused more on detail. “It’s not so much about creating big spaces, but creating more inviting spaces,” Hoiseth says.

Recently, his company transformed a 1960s rambler into a modern cottage-style home. The makeover, which was on the 2008 Parade of Homes Remodeler’s Showcase Spring Preview, included a small one-level addition. “The house backs up to a lake,” Hoiseth notes. “And it’s in a neat neighborhood in Plymouth.”

The empty-nester homeowners, who had lived in the home since the 1970s, wanted to achieve an entirely new look, while still remaining in the same home. Top on their wish list was to open the home to the lake views, connect the garage to the home, and make the space more inviting.

Hoiseth’s company bumped out one wall of the house and brought the garage forward, then added a mudroom/laundry room to create direct access from the garage to the home. By adding the main-level laundry component, he also converted the home to one with single-level living so the homeowners can age in place.